DETROIT LIONS: Development of Matthew Stafford will play role in coaching search

By Paula Pasche

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

When the Lions’ offense comes up short like it did in the second half of the season, all eyes go to Matthew Stafford.

The Lions quarterback of course is not the only reason for the 7-9 record.

This is the same guy who trashed the franchise record books two seasons ago.

When it comes to finding a coach to replace Jim Schwartz, who was fired on Monday, all eyes will be on Stafford too.

A 25-year-old talented quarterback helps make Detroit a good destination for a head coach.

It won’t necessarily be the head coach’s responsibility to get Stafford and the offense back on track, but he will choose the offensive coordinator to replace Scott Linehan and also a quarterbacks coach.

“We’ll have coaches here that can get him to where he needs to be,’’ general manager Martin Mayhew said. “He’s already been a great quarterback in 2011. He had 41 touchdowns and 5,000 yards passing. We have to get him to that point and beyond. That hasn’t happened the last two seasons, and part of that is personnel related I think, but he certainly has the ability to be that guy.”

Stafford hasn’t built on his 2011 season, but Mayhew said there are several factors involved.

“The quarterback, as you know, gets a lot of blame when things don’t go well and gets a lot of credit when things do go well but there are a lot of things around him that take place as well,’’ Mayhew said. “I think we can do a better job from a personnel standpoint by setting him up for success. Obviously, there are some things that can be done from a coaching standpoint as well, but it’s not all on him I don’t think.”

Specifically, the Lions can boost the talent at the wide receiver position. Stafford had his problems, but the drops by the receivers certainly weren’t on his shoulders. Tim Lappano, the wide receivers coach, was fired along with Schwartz and Linehan.

Stafford said he’s going to miss Linehan who guided him through his first five NFL seasons.

“He and TD (quarterbacks coach Todd Downing) and really all the guys on offense, we did a lot of really good things here in five years, set a bunch of franchise records and played some of the best offensive football this franchise has ever seen,’’ Stafford said. “We’re going to look to continue it. I owe a lot to those guys for sticking with me through two years of injuries, coming out on the other side of it and playing some really good football.’’

It’s not like Stafford had a bad year, at least statistically. His 4,650 passing yards ranks third in the NFL. He’s also ranked third with 62 passes of 20 yards or more.

Stafford, who hasn’t missed a game in the last three seasons, finished with 29 touchdowns (sixth in NFL) and 19 interceptions (sixth most in NFL). His percentage of completions was 58.5.

Of course, the numbers that really matter are 7-9.

The new coach will be expected to step in and win immediately. Team president Tom Lewand emphasized that on Monday.

“I think that’s everybody’s expectation every year, no matter if you have a first-year coach or not,’’ Stafford said. “But to tell you the truth I’ve never been through (a coaching change) so I don’t really know what to tell you, I don’t have any history to draw back on.’’

Stafford has a reputation as one of the hardest workers on the team. He stayed in the Detroit area last year during the offseason working out at the practice facility and watching film regularly.

In the offseason he doesn’t work with a quarterback specialist and said he has no plans to do so now. He readily admits he needs to improve — always has — but seems to think a quarterback guru is not the right avenue for him.

He has depended on Downing, the Lions quarterbacks coach who is still on staff at least until the new coach is hired.

“I think all 32 teams want to have a detailed quarterback coach, someone who is good at coaching quarterbacks and that is certainly part of the equation, whether that is the head coach who has that experience or somebody on the staff,’’ Mayhew said.